High speed type action



Sept. 10, 1968 w. s B 3,400,799

HIGH SPEED TYPE ACTION Filed April 25, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO na/(IQ), @t/

ATTORNEYS Sept. 10, 1968 w. STUIBER HIGH SPEED TYPE ACTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1967 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,400,799 HIGH SPEED TYPE ACTION Walter Stuiber, Nurnberg, Germany, assignor to Gruudig Elektro-Mechanische Versuchsanstalt Inh. Max Grundig, Furth, Bavaria, Germany Filed Apr. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 633,467 Claims priority, applicatiolfii 7Gselrmany, Apr. 30, 1966,

Claims. cl. 197 17 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention The present invention is an improvement of the type action disclosed in the U.S. Patent 3,225,884 and is particularly suited for a high speed accounting machine as disclosed in the U.S. Patent 3,232,403.

High speed typing mechanisms require type actions which return very fast to the initial position of rest in order to be ready for the next actuation. On the other hand, the driven operating means which actuate the type bar must be quickly stopped after the imprint has been made, and recoil and bouncing back must be prevented.

The type action disclosed in the U.S. Patent 3,225,884 permits relative movement between a lever which is connected with a type bar, and another lever which is driven by the power roll. The driven lever may bounce back and move relative to the first lever and consequently may not be in a position of readiness when the type action is again actuated by a key lever.

Summary 0 the invention It is one object of the invention to provide a high speed type action which after each actuation rapidly assumes a position of rest ready for the next actuation.

Another object of the invention is to couple during the type bar actuation, parts of the type action which are mounted for relative movement, so that these parts move together during part of the movements of the type action.

With these objects in view the present invention relates to a type action which comprises first operating means connected with a type element, second operating means cooperating with the power roll and connected with the first operating means, coupling means operable for connecting the first and second operating means, spring means biasing the coupling means toward an engaged position, and stop means for holding the coupling means in a disengaged position while the first and second operating means are in a position of rest.

When after a key actuation, the power roll drives the first and second operating means, the coupling means is moved away from the stop means and is free to move to the engaged position for coupling the first and second operating means during parts of the forward typing stroke and the return stroke. Due to this connection, bouncing or recoil movements of the operating means are prevented. Near the end of the return stroke, the coupling means engages the stop means and is returned by the same to the normal disengaged position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the couice pling means includes a coupling member in the form of a latch pivotally mounted on a first operating lever, and a recess in a second operatin lever.

The stop means is preferably constructed as a comblike structure having prongs laterally guiding the first operating levers of a series of type actions, and serving as individual stops for the coupling members of the type actions.

A biasing means urges the operating means to a position of rest in which the second operating lever abuts a fixed abutment, while the first operating lever abuts an abutment on the second operating lever. When the coupling latch is located in the coupling recess, portions of the first and second operating levers abut each other.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the acc0mpanying drawing.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially in section, illustrating a type action according to the invention in the position of rest as viewed from one side;

FIG. 2 is a corresponding elevation illustrating the type action while being driven by the power roll;

FIG. 3 is a corresponding elevation illustrating the type action after producing an imprint;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a detail of a type action; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the type action as viewed from the other side.

Description of the preferred ernbodiment Referring now to the drawing, a frame structure 1 has open slots 1a in which first operating levers 2 are mounted on a shaft 1b for pivotal movement. Wire links 3 connect operating levers 2 with pivotally mounted type bars 4. A biasing spring 2a is connected to each operating lever 2, of which only one is shown in the drawing, and urges the respective operating lever2 to turn in counterclockwise direction to a position of rest illustrated in FIG. 1.

Another shaft 5 is also mounted on the frame structure of the machine, and supports a series of key levers 6 for angular movement. Each key lever 6 has a portion 6a with a pin 6b located in the slot 7b of an actuating member 7 which has an angular end portion 7a cooperating with a fulcrum member 70 which is mounted on the frame of the machine. A spring 71 connects actuating member 7 with key lever 6 and urges actuating member 7 into engagement with an abutment shaft 72.

A second operating lever 9 is mounted on the first operating lever 2 for pivotal movement by means of a pivot connection 10. When a key lever 6 is operated, actuating member 7 is turned about fulcrum member 70 and engages arm 8 of operating lever 9 so that the same turns about pivot pin 10 .and engages power roll 12 by its engaging portion 11. The power roll rotates in counterclockwise direction so that operating lever 9 is driven to turn in clockwise direction until its arm 8 abuts an adjustable abutment 23, as described in detail in the U.S. Patent 3,225,884.

A comb-like structure 20 extends across the type actions and has curved prongs 19 forming between each other slots in which operating levers 2 are guided when the type action is operated, as best seen in FIG. 3.

Each operating lever 2 carries a pivot 13 on which a coupling latch 14 is mounted for turning movement. Coupling latch 14 has an angular coupling portion 16, best seen in FIG. 4, which has a hole into which the end of a spring is hooked. The other end of the spring is attached to a projection 9a of operating lever 9 which has an angular coupling recess 17 matching the outline of the angular coupling portion 16. Spring 15 urges coupling latch 14 toward coupling recess 17, but in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, a stop portion 18 of coupling latch 14 abuts a corresponding prong 19 of stop means as best seen in FIG. 4 so that latch 14 cannot engage coupling recess 17. Stop portion 18 is preferably slightly bent in axial direction of pivot pin 13.

Spring 15 urges coupling latch 14 to turn in counterclockwise direction which is prevented by stop means 19, 20 in the position of rest of the type action illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 5, operating lever 9 has a stop portion 21 on the side facing operating lever 2. In the position of FIG. 1, spring 2a holds operating lever 2 in a position in which abutment portion 22 abuts stop portion 21 of operating lever 9. A turning moment is thus transferred to operating lever 9 which turns to a position of rest in which engaging portion 11 abuts the frame structure 1 as shown in FIG. 1.

Operation When a key lever 6 is depressed, actuating member 7 is pressed against arm 8 of operating lever 9 and turns the same about connecting pivot pin .10 in clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, and in counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5, so that after a short angular displacement of operating lever 9, engaging portion 11 engages the rotating power roll 12 and is turned in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. 2. The slanted portion 11a of operating lever 9 engages coupling latch 14 in the position of FIG. 2 and turns the same to a position in which stop portion 18 is spaced from the prongs 19 of stop means 20 while spring 15 is tensioned.

After arm 8 of operating lever 9 has turned far enough to abut the adjustable abutment 23 and projection 21; of operating lever 2 engages the end of actuating member 7, as shown in FIG. 3, it shifts the same to a position in which the bent portion 7a is located forwardly of the fulcrum member 70 so that actuating member 7 turns away from .arm 8. When arm 8 abuts abutment 23, operating lever 9 is stopped, and operating lever 2 continues its movement. Since coupling latch 14 is released by stop means 19, 20, and engaging portion 11 is released by power roll 12, spring 15 turns coupling latch 14 and operating lever 8 in counter-clockwise direction until coupling portion 16 engages coupling recess 17 in operating lever 9, as shown in FIG. 3.

The coupling means 14, 17 is now engaged, and operating lever 2 is coupled with operating lever 9 for movement together so that type bar 4 is moved toward a platen, not shown, in a forward typing stroke in counter-clockwise direction.

When spring 2a turns the coupled operating levers 2, 9 with the type bar 4 back in a return stroke, stop portion 18 engages the respective prong 19 of stop means 20 so that coupling latch 14 is turned in clockwise direction against the action of spring 15 until coupling portion .16 releases coupling recess 17 so that all parts of the type action return to the normal position of rest shown in FIG. 1.

As long as the coupling means 14, 16, 17, 18, couples the first and second operating levers 2 and 9, abutment portion 22 and stop portion 21 abut each other, and a relative movement between the operating levers is not possible and bouncing or recoil movements of operating lever 9 relative to operating lever 2 are prevented. On the other hand, the arrangement of coupling means 16, 17 is such that the coupling member 16 is disengaged by a stop prong 19 to permit a rapid return of operating lever 9 to its initial position of rest shown in FIG. 1 at the end of the return stroke. When operating lever 2 arrives again in its initial position of rest, operating lever 9 is already in its initial position of rest, ready for the next actuation of the type action.

Tests have shown that the force of spring 15 can be small, which has a favorable influence on the speed of the entire type action. On the other hand, the construction of the invention is extremely simple, inexpensive and easily assembled.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of high speed type actions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a type action having two pivotally connected operating levers rigidly connected by coupling means during a typing operation, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a type action having a first lever connected with a type bar and a second lever pivotally connected with said first lever and adapted to be driven by a power roll, the improvement comprising coupling means having a coupling member mounted on one of said levers, and spring means connecting said coupling member with the other lever so as to provide a yielding connection between said first and second levers during actuation of said second lever by the power roll, said spring means moving said coupling member to a position in which it rigidly couples said first and second levers for movement together after release of said second lever by the power roll, and thereby prevents bouncing back of said levers.

2. A type action comprising, in combination, a type element; first operating means connected with said type element; second operating means adapted to cooperate with a power roll; connecting means connecting said first and second operating means for relative movement; biassing means urging said first and second operating means and said type element to positions of rest; key controlled means for moving said second operating means into engagement with the power roll so that the latter drives said second operating means to an operative position;

coupling means having a disengaged position of rest, and

an engaged position for connecting said first and second operating means for movement together; spring means biassing said coupling means toward said engaged position; and stop means for holding said coupling means in said disengaged position while said first and second operating means are in said position of rest, said first and second operating means positioning said coupling means spaced from said stop means while said second operating means is in said operative position so that said coupling means is moved by said spring means to said engaged position for coupling said first and second operating means when said second operating means is released by said power roll whereby bouncing of said second operating means is prevented, said coupling means engaging said stop means at the end of a typing operation and being moved by the same to said disengaged position.

3. A type action as claimed in claim 2, wherein said coupling means include a coupling latch mounted on one of said operating means, and a coupling recess in the other operating means engaged by said coupling latch for connecting said first and second operating means for movement together; and wherein said spring means is connected to said coupling latch and said other operating means.

4. A type action as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and second operating means include first and second operating levers, wherein said connecting means include a pivot means connecting said first and second operating levers for relative turning movement; wherein said coupling means includes a coupling latch pivotally mounted on said first operating lever and a coupling recess in said second operating lever, said coupling latch engaging said coupling recess in said engaged position of said coupling means for rigidly coupling said first and second operating levers for movement together; and wherein said spring means connects said'coupling latch with said second operating lever.

S. A series of type actions as claimed in claim 2 wherein each coupling means includes a coupling member pivotally mounted on said first operating means; and wherein said stop means of each type action is a prong of a comb-like structure extending across said type action.

6. A type action as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and second operating means include first and second operating levers, respectively, wherein said connecting means include pivot means connecting said first and second operating levers for relative turning movement; comprising supporting structure supporting said first operating lever for turning movement; wherein said first and second operating levers have ahutments engaging each other in said position of rest under the action of said biassing means; and wherein said second operating lever has an engaging portion cooperating with the power roll, and abuts said supporting structure in said position of rest.

7. A type action as claimed in claim 6, wherein said coupling means include a coupling latch pivotally mounted on said first operating lever and being urged by said spring means to engage said stop means in said position of rest; wherein said second operating lever has a slanted face engaged by said coupling latch during movement of said second operating lever to said operative position,

and also has a coupling recess engaged by said coupling latch in said operative position of said second operative lever whereby said first and second operative levers are rigidly coupled for movement together while said type element moves in said forward and return strokes, said coupling latch being engaged by said stop means near the end of said return stroke of said first and second coupled operating levers whereby said coupling latch is turned against the action of said spring means to a disengaged position located outside of said coupling recess and permitting relative movement of said first and second operating lever in said position of rest.

8. A type action as claimed in claim 7 wherein said stop means includes at least one guide slot for guiding said first operating lever, and at least one prong adjacent said guide slot for engaging and stopping said coupling latch in said position of rest.

9. A type action as claimed in claim 7, wherein said coupling latch has a first portion pivotally mounted on said first operating lever, and an integral second angular coupling portion; and wherein said coupling recess of said second operating lever is angular and matches the outline of said coupling portion of said coupling latch.

10. A type action as claimed in claim 2, comprising an adjustable abutment engaged by said second operating means during movement from said position of rest to said operative position so that said first operating means and said type element move relative to said second operating means until said coupling means assumes said engaged position for coupling said first and second operating means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,896,765 7/1959 Enders 197-17 2,897,941 8/1959 Dodge 19717 3,300,018 1/1967 Frechette 197-17 3,327,831 6/1967 Gagnebin et al. 197,17 XR ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

E. S. BURR, Assistant Examiner. 

